Showing posts with label Relay for Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Relay for Life. Show all posts

British Bulldogs Skirmish to Benefit Relay for Life

6/19/11  at 12:04 PM
Armadans know how to have fun and help people. All proceeds from this event will benefit Relay for Life!



"British Bulldogs" is a British playground game similar to Tag and Red Rover.

One or two players are selected to be the Bulldogs. They will take up position in the middle of the playing area. Everyone else goes to one end of the area.

The aim for the players is to run from one end to the other without getting caught by the Bulldogs. The aim for the Bulldogs is to catch them. Anyone who is caught joins the Bulldogs. Once a Bulldog, you have three Rams in the front to try and get the other rafts. The winner is the last player to not be caught. They then become the first Bulldog for the next game.

In this ironclads version, you start with a raft, when rammed enough to be destroyed, it will turn into the Bulldog boat.

Come watch the fun and mayhem at Scar's Edge, Armada Cutwater on Saturday, June 25th at 10am SLT!

The Aether Chrononauts present Lady Aianna of Alurel in a storytelling event for Relay for Life

4/23/11  at 4:50 AM

Storytelling is an old art, almost lost, that in Second Life has found a new renaissance.

Aianna is a veteran and a star of SL storytelling. Her debut in July 2007 filled almost two sims and since then she has told her stories in too many occasions to be counted. She has read original work, poetry, classical fairytales and also told stories made on the moment for the audience. 

For this Relay for Life event Aianna will read from "The Warrior Princess" the first novel of her own fantasy series "The Valley of the Ivory Swan", the same featured on her successful debut, almost 4 years ago.


Sunday 24 April at 11am SLT, the Kingdom of Alurel : http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Alurel/122/159/23

Has the Clockwinder lost the plot?

4/22/11  at 4:14 PM

As reported earlier this week. New Babbage will, this weekend, host a charity land auction with all proceeds going to Relay For Life of Second Life.

What is more, every lot in the auction is being sold with one month of rent prepaid.

The Primgraph caught up with Galactic Baroque, the treasurer and finance minister for the state of New Babbage. Taking time out from his busy schedule Mr Baroque was heard to say.

"I am not quite sure what has come over Mr Tenk. I do believe he has gone quite mad. This is sheer lunacy I tell you, lunacy!"

The auction, however, is still scheduled for Saturday, and it is sure to be an exciting event. Rumour has reached us that there are now even more parcels of high calibre, industrial land set to fall under the hammer, as the apparent madness spreads to other citizens of New Babbage.

Don't miss this sale of the century taking place in Wheatstone Waterways, New Babbage. Saturday, April 23, at 1pm SLT.

Special Charity Land Auction in New Babbage

4/17/11  at 5:29 AM


Have you ever fancied yourself as a bold industrialist but lacked the right land to build your factory? Or are you an eccentric inventor in need of a laboratory? Then come to New Babbage next Saturday, the 23rd day of April, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon to witness the unprecedented auction of prime industrial land in the City State of New Babbage. Each lot purchased will be granted 4 weeks of rent pre-paid by the mayor himself and all proceeds from this wonderous occasion will be donated to charity.

New Babbage has everything a neo-victorian industrialist or steampunk could want. A community of like-minded and ever modest geniuses, unlimited steam power, air you can cut with a knife and the new modern essntial, a plentiful supply of largely disposable urchin labour.

The following prime lots will be auctioned off by Mayor Tenk on Saturday, April 23, at 1pm SLT.

Do not miss this wonderful opportunity to live out your entrepreneurial dream.
All proceeds will go to New Babbage Relay For Life of Second Life.

Lot #16. Gatto Gelatto. 1536sqm 351 prims. Corner lot on canals, water level.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wheatstone%20Waterways/87/118/102

Lot #20. Galleria del Gatto A. 1280sqm 292 prims. Canal access, water level.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wheatstone%20Waterways/85/91/101

Lot #21. Galleria del Gatto B. 1024 sqm 234 prims. Canal access, water level.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wheatstone%20Waterways/129/84/101

Lot #25. Militia HQ. 1024sqm 234 prims. Canal access, water level.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wheatstone%20Waterways/96/54/101

Lot #26. Wiggyfish cannery. 1024sqm 234 prims. Canal access, water level.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Wheatstone%20Waterways/119/51/101



Fantasy Faire 2011 - Day 10 - And they all lived happily ever after

4/11/11  at 6:54 PM
She was as new as noobs get. One day old. And this was the first place she found.  I almost didn't say hi. Would have been a shame.  I'd have missed the best moment of the Faire. See, she goes for a biopsy this week and she's scared.  No one has yet said, "you have cancer." But the fear...We spoke a few minutes, about SL, Relay, the Faire. "All that money," she said. "Why do people give so much?" I often ask myself the same. "Because you're worth it," I said.  L$5,262,533. $21,540 US. Worth every cent. - Zander Greene, Friends Fighting Cancer.
Day 10 - And they all lived happily ever after

The title above, the cliched ending to a child's fairy story, tells us that it is over, Fantasy Faire 2011 has run its course. But the fact of the matter is that there is no end to the Relay, not until there is a "happily ever after" for all the victims of cancer.

Fantasy Faire 2011 has drawn to a close, we have walked many virtual miles, we'll consider it training for the big event yet to come. Now it is time to pack our bags and head off home. Before we leave, I would like to say a fond farewell to the amazing fantasies that our builders and creators wove for us. Judith LeFevre has supplied the vast majority of the images I have featured during my tour and I asked her to select a few that spoke to her of the places we saw.

But first, the Great Auction; anyone who has followed this blog wil have seen mention of the unique gazebos created in the theme of each sim, the gazebos stood at the landing point for each sim adjacent to the sponsors store. Each of these eight beautiful themed gazebos was individually auctioned off. Finally, to close off this amazing event, the full content of two of the sims and one of the most photographed, most talked about pieces, the mighty tower from Dark Mirage were auctioned.

Mayah Parx offered her entire build and landscaping on the delightful “Fantastical and Magical” sim and the combined talents of Lauren Thibaud, Piedras Chama and Nonna Hedges offered their gorgeous “Forest of Light” sim build and landscaping whilst Markus Inkpen and Sharni Azalee offered the stunning tower and bridge from their sim.

The auction attracted a lot of interest and a spectacular $L 322 200 was raised during the proceedings, that is almost 1300 US dollars. The highlight of the auction was the entire sim build of Fantastical and Magical  which went for a whopping $L 105k or 420 US dollars, and I am certain that the buyer will still feel that they got a bargain for such an incredible creation.

To repeat the total from Zander's comment above.
The Fantasy Faire 2011 raise in excess of 21,500 US Dollars or 5.2 million Linden dollars.
An amazing feat and a tribute to all the talented and hardworking individuals that made the event such a success.



There are many factors that go in to making the Fantasy Faire the special event that it is, but perhaps more than anything it is the sense of solidarity that arises when people, both creators and fantasy fans alike, unite from around the globe with one common goal, to help raise money to find a cure that finally lays Cancer to rest.


Fantasy is about the impossible. It is our dreams and our childhood memories. It is our hopes and our desire to explore and discover the unknown. The Fantasy Faire brings together people who know that beyond the Land of Possible, there exists an entire unmapped World of the Improbable residing in a Universe of the Impossible. These are the same people for who a Cure for Cancer is just a matter of time.
We Relay because we know that together the Impossible becomes Possible.

                              Friends Fighting Cancer - April 2011



Now as promised Judith has picked a image from each of her sets. These are picked not necessarily for techncal merit or composition but simply for the personal memory that they convey. I asked her to chose just one from each sim, to which she blanched having taken in excess of 800 photos. Here, however, in no particualr order are her chosen images.


Exotic Worlds

Nemo Revisited

Fantastical and Magical

Enchanted Mysts

Forest Of Shadow

Sea OF Mer

Forest Of Light

Dark Mirage

Fantasy Faire 2011 - Day 9 - Enchanted Mysts

  at 4:18 AM
Another record day for the Faire!  L$579,363 lindens or $2367 USD.
The silent auction raised $1100 USD. Khyle was BACK in jail, along with Marcus & Searlit; combined bail over $500 USD!  Alia's beautiful story came to a moving end. And all day the sims teemed with people buying your magical wares. The final day will be a stretch to make our goal of $20,000 US.  And once more our Captain asks us to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. I'll do my best and I know you will too. Go Relay! - Zander Greene, Friends Fighting Cancer.

We step across the threshold from the land of dreams and find ourselves in Enchanted Mysts as night falls. A low mist rolls about our ankles as our eyes adjust to the dark (A personal preference but I enjoyed Enchanted Mysts on a night setting). It is a warm spring evening and the light perfume of flowers carried on the fresh night air calms the body and mind, and yet there is a sense of unease about this place, a palpable tension...

After yesterday's fun-filled romp through Fantastical and Magical we leave with a sugar high to end them all, but where we find ourselves next is starkly different. Enchanted Mysts creates a decaying, high elven society where there is something afoot, perhaps we will find out what on our journey.

Day 9 - Enchanted Mysts
(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Enchanted%20Mysts/65/128/23)
Words by Beq Janus
Photos by Judith LeFevre
Enchanted Mysts is the westmost sim on the ring of eight Fantasy Faire sims, to the south we have Fantastical and Magical form where we have just entered, and to the North lies the Forest of Light where this journey began nine days ago.
We entered from the south at the eastern edge of the sim and we follow the path leading us west.
To the north lies an expanse of lake, overgrown gardens, crumbling statuary and pretty ornamental wells but for now as ever we will focus on the pathway.
As we enter the first store, by Falln Angel, a high pillared, grey, mausoleum style building. We find a small book discarded on the floor and upon touching it, we are given a note, a peculiar love letter.

The next store lies just across the path where we find a table standing outside offering a free glass of absinth. As we partake of the offer, we notice a line of similar tables stretching along the street ahead and, out of curiousity,  we pick up the note on the table that explains the gift.
We learn that there is to be a coronation, that the princess Ilear is to become Queen. It seems then that the city is preparing to celebrate the momentous event, so where is the party atmosphere?

Inside the store, another book, another piece of information.....

Enchanted Mysts creator and sponsor Alia Baroque has created an interactive tale within the sim, and as it turns out later reaching beyond the bounds of Enchanted Mysts to the Fantasy Faire sims that lie beyond. The tale is a mystery that is serialised in 5 chapters, a new chapter being published each day. As we are now at the end of the Faire, all the chapters are published, but the tale is still there to discover if we wish. We have, in fact, stumbled across days one and two already. The tables and drinks outside the stores were part of chapter 1, a simple inducement to shop, a welcoming gesture. With chapter 2, we discover that the princess has vanished an evil threat looms. The little books in all the shops give us fragments of the story, the history of what has gone before. Though we are now at the end of the Faire, I will not spoil the tale with a solution, though be warned I do summarise the events here, suffice to say that with each store that you visit a book can be found and a piece of the background uncovered.
We wend our way along the cracked marble flags that make up the pathway here, heading west, carefully examining each store for its clues. The stores here are fairly strongly themed and predominantly Fae or related, though not exclusively so. In Enchanted Myths, we can find clothing, skins and animations alongside landscaping items such as forests and statues. Each store is presented in a similar sombre looking structure.  A full list of all the merchants supporting the Enchanted Mysts sim can be found on the Fantasy Faire Vendor list page

All around us are signs of decay and neglect. One imagines that the most recent monarch has been somewhat less than attentive to the needs of this land.
We turn north, with the pathway, and see the soft glowing blue crystals that adorn the elegant teleport gazebo.

Immediately to the west of this is Alia's store, Fallen Gods, and as we might expect it is part store, part story. Here we find a group of concerned citizens who each give a hint or plea for your assistence when touched. On the floor, we find a large book bound in turquoise - the Book of Myst.
During the execution of the tale, the book was updated each day with a new chapter, it now lies completed and can be bought for free. Normally at this point we would detour and observe the rest of the sim and its non-retail elements, however the fabric of the sim is interwoven with Alia's tale and we have a quest to complete, we must visit each store. The pathway outside continues north before turning east and finally entering northwards into the Forest of Light, the stores continue to line the streets as before, but as the story fills out heads we are increasingly drawn to the mysteries of the inner part of the sim.

Having visited the stores and collected the background clues, and doubtless a number of exciting goodies to unpack when we finally return home, we look at chapter 3. 

Entitled 'The Choice', it is a call to us all to attend the 'Jail and Bail' session held for Alia on the Enchanted Mysts sim. The jailing "scene", now passed into the history of the event helped towards Day 6's total of more than half a million linden dollars at the conclusion of the jailing a powerful ally is released to fight the evil Utmah who is threatenign the princess. A new character then appeared in the Fallen Gods store. "The Fallen", the ancient god of the Mysts, now released from the stone form he has been trapped in by the geneorsity of our donations.

The story has told us the Utmah once a trusted, friend of a former king turned to evil and masquerading as the guardian orb has been waiting for the right blood to be passed before growing in strength and destroying the land. The blood captured in a legendary petal is another part of our quest.

"Utmah was waiting all those eras for the promise of King Alameides that one day a Queen will carry the blood to make him mortal and rule again over the Continent and Realms, he will destroy us all, you must stop him!" - The Fallen, Chapter 4 of The Book of Mysts

And so it is that Chapter 4, scatters us to the sims of Fantasy Faire on a quest to find the embassies of the Enchanted Mysts wherein lie runes that will help us locate the essence, the orb that has been lying in wait. Those who succesfully complete this challenge and find all the clues will be rewarded with a unique gift, the shimmering orb avatar, and of course as we hunt through the sims for the secret runes we undoubtedly drop linden dollars into the numerous gift bearing vendors and help support the cause that underlies this all.

Chapter 5 brings us back to Enchanted Mysts for the coronation, the conclusion of this tale. Through our efforts the evil guardian, Utmah has been prevented from achieving his goal.
Starting back at the teleport gazebo, we walk east along a statue lined avenues towards the lake. A crumbling, badly damaged bridge leads out to the centre of the lake and in the days before the final chapter, apparently served no purpose. But now a new platform has been called forth from the waters and, smiling happily from the coronation dais, in the midst of the lake, we see the new queen Ilear, smiling back.

As we approach, a small red petal catches our eye and we are granted the gift of a special face tattoo for discovering the blood petal. However our eyes are on the podium and the words it carries.

The tale of Ilear, of Enchanted Mysts is an allegory for the fight against Cancer. As we have followed the tale, we have ourselves helped in this fight and the podium is full of further prizes available for a minimum donation of 1 linden, to thank us for our help.

I will end this report and in turn our journey through this wonderful Faire with the epilogue from the tale that unfolded in Enchanted Mysts. Thank you for journeying with me on this tour and remember, that whilst the Faire ends here, for now at least, the Relay continues with a number of exciting events in May. Keep reading Prim Perfect and the Primgraph to make sure you are up to date with all the latest news.
Long Life and prosperity to our beloved Princess Ilear, reappeared safe on Mysts after the Evil being of the name we will erase in History chased her. The Crowning Celebration will take place where the Evil Guardian Orb awaited for Eons his blood payment, to sign for the Future a New Era of Hope and Nobility with our new just crowned Queen Ilear. By spreading Hope with your pure essence you neutralized Utmah and he places no threat anymore. This is the beginning of a new Era and all thanks to you.
Cancer waits patiently, his essence is dormant for ages to wait for the right blood and insinuate its evil. Just our patient research, just the unity of all our efforts and just our hope can help our world to get rid of this evil for a New Era without Cancer.

This story is real, a story of people who suffer, a story of people who struggle for a cure and still the ending is not clear.
If you wish THIS story to have a good ending and help, if you do NOT like the story we are living right now then donate to the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life, even one Linden can help.
Thank you for your support
Previous Fantasy Faire Entries on Prim Perfect:-

Fantasy Faire 2011 - Day 5 - Nemo Revisited

4/7/11  at 4:25 AM
Let me tell you what passes for a slow day around here! We add L$200K to the total. That total goes over $10,000 USD, our final total from 2010 on our 4th day of 2011. It rained L$ as Opal Lei, Lerochelle Destiny, & IshtarAngel Micheline were bailed out and Piedras Chama's beautiful Trees were offered up. But my favorite moment was a visit from Captain Ozz Seattle "These totals are unbelievable, " he said "No, I take it back. You look around here, at what everyone has done. It inspires giving." Amen. - Zander Greene, Friends Fighting Cancer.


Day 5 has arrived. Last night the total raised surpassed last years total for the entire event. Today, as we explore the next sim it will pass the 300,000 L$ mark. But I am getting ahead of myself; all too easy to do, for a dyed in the wool steampunk, when faced with the prospect of the reincarnated underwater complex of Nemo.

Day 5 - Nemo Revisited
(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nemo%20Revisited/192/128/24)
By Beq Janus
Photos by Judith LeFevre

The smell of salt air mixes now with the familiar intoxicating odour of steam engines as we feel a new pavement of solid steel beneath our feet. We have arrived in the steampunk fantasy world of Nemo revisited.

With inspiration drawn from Jules Verne, The Nemo Trilogy was one of the cult hits of 2010, featured in the destination guide by Linden Labs. When, in October, Sextan Shepherd, the creator of Nemo decided to retire the work and focus on new projects, we may have thought that the work was lost to us. However, as a special treat for the Fantasy Faire crowds, Mr Shepherd agreed to recreate some of the highlights of his former work, including not only the undersea complex but also the spectacular hall of mirrors and a number of other inspirational creations.

The Nemo revisited sim lies on the eastern side of the ring of eight Fantasy Faire sims. To the North, where we have come from, lies Dark Mirage, to the south lies the watery world of the Sea Of Mer. The path, a solid looking construction of mammoth steel plates rivetted to the ground, leads off to the eastern, outer edge of the sim. At the eastern edge the path turns south eventually turning back west at the southern most end of the sim where it eventually joins the Sea of Mer.

Immediately as you enter you see before you, away from the track the colourful glass of the renowned hall of mirrors which we shal investigate shortly. Instead, by following the path we see, amongst a variety of air shafts and mechanical paraphernalia the regualr shapes of the stores. On the surface this sim is neatly laid out, the merchant's themed stores are simple but effective, in one of two basic designs a steampunk, victorian style, industrial hangar or my preference, an art nouveau inspired store front made of embossed steel.

Despite the regions theme being so heavily influenced by Steampunk, the majority of the stores in the first section are more aligned to medieval and fae genres with an array of clothing and accesory stores, a manga influenced outlet and unique to our journey so far, a celebration of servitude SL style with a store that primarily sells a wide range of trays of drinks! Those looking for a cohesive steampunk bolt hole in the Fantasy Faire will be dismayed perhaps, but the eclectic mixture of merchants makes sense as we turn south at the corner and approach the store of sim sponsor Arachne Anatra whose Fae and Elven Furniture market is found by the central teleport hub.
Each sim has had its own custom design of hub, each a large gazebo style structure themed to the sim. The one for Nemo Revisited is no exception, designed by the sim sponsor itself it is undoubtedly the most intricate we have yet seen and reflects neatly the intricate creations of its designer. Arachne has a range of her goods on display, the intricate woven sculpts in complex organic forms are used to created a mixture of Fae and Elven goods, her mainstay, as well as a range of Steampunk inspired furnishings and a rather fetching clockwork doll ensemble.

At this point we can divert from the retial onslaught. The layout of the sim is in fact best suited for arrivals at the TP point. Visitors arriving at the TP point can first head to the underwater attractions and after this will find themselve back at the northern entrance where we started our journey. We however will diver tnow and head west towards the water from the TP point you will find the large copper clad tube that will allow you to descend into the depths and explore the submarine world of Sextan Shepherd.

As we descend the light changes taking on a blue hue of refracted sunlight from the surface. We emerge from the tunnel into a circular pod which holds a 3 dimensional map of the original Nemo city. Underwater here we have Captain Nemos stufy, his workshop and a homage to Tesla. The attention to detail is phenomenal and really sets this build apart and it is clear to all why the Nemo Trilogy created such a stir. Every surface is etxtured to fit the whole and the form is itself functional and practical, you are in no doubt that this could really have been built and the material and design choices carry the influence of Verne's era.

I was lucky enough to meet Sextan Shepherd during my visit. At the time he was musing over the gears texture applied to the sim landscape. He was not entirely happy and I smiled to note that it had been replaced with a detailed sand texture upon my return, his obsession with detail goes through all that he does. In the workshop we find an array of mechanical constructs most are based around creatures of the sea.
The Manta Ray submarine, the shrimp, the crab that lays upon its back in pieces awaiting repair. I have a particular fondness for this type of design as those who know me are all too aware, so I could not resist getting out my wrench and helping with the repairs.

"It's because of the Manta ray that I have built Nemo", remarked Sextan, "I was in need of a place to surround it".

We move on to the next pod, the while space is filled with sound and light as the sparks of electrcity leap from a variety devices, the air crackles and your hair stands on end. We are in Tesla's laboratory. Expect to stand dumbstruck for a time as you take in the full impact of this stunning build.

Eventually however we must move on, and the tunnel returns us to the surface. At this point you may feel that you have seen the highlight of the sim but pause for a moment. At the surface you will find a few more of Sextan's creations. The terrestrial globe spinning beneath the magnifier, a lovely example of scripting. Nearby a new creation a space observatory, take a moment to realx in the large bucket seat and gaze out into space.
Another example of Sextan's detailed approach to design is found as we approach our next destination, the hall of mirrors. On the pathway we find a beautifully crafted clock, exposed gears, complex movements and the intricate case make it a wonder in itself.
The reappearnace of the Hall of Mirrors, one of the many many talking points of the orignal Nemo Trilogy, is most welcome. A simple concept, a beautiful stained glass tower, hung with spinning mirrors reflecting the light filtering through the glazing. But of course, in Second Life we have no mirrors! A relatively simple but effective scripting trick is employed and the visual impact of the structure is realised.

This concludes our detour and we continue on our way, returning back to the teleport hub we head south, once more, and now we find an increased steampunk alignment amongst the merchants alongside a range of medieval outlets.

The full list of merchants squeezed into the Nemo Revisited sim can be found on the Fantasy Faire vendor list for Nemo Revisited

At the end of the steel streetway we come to the water's edge. The Sea Of Mer lies before us, I hope we can all swim. We look back upon the rippled surface of Nemo's sea, remembering the remarkable constructions hidden in the depths, and consider ourselves lucky to have had another chance to see this wonder of Second Life.

Fantasy Faire 2011 - Day 4 Dark Mirage

4/5/11  at 5:48 PM
Despite two sim crashes, problems with SL at large, and a tornado in my backyard, day 3 of the Faire has raised over L$250,000.  Also, we learned a few things; Evie can bring in the bucks even when her sim is offline; Saffia looks smashing as a Mer even in leg irons (tail irons?);  The Captain has the Lindens on speed dial;  And there is no challenge we can't meet working together.  Yeah, we knew that last one already.  You all prove it everyday.  This is Relay. And its what making a difference looks like. - Zander Greene, Friends Fighting Cancer
Yesterday as we were exploring the dark secrets of the Forest of Shadow, Saffia Widdershins was being clapped in irons and jailed. I am very pleased to tell you all that she is not only free and at large once again, but that her generous friends raised 50,000 L$ to secure her release by the jailers. Today, as she celebrates her freedom, we move on to the desert delights of Dark Mirage.

Dark Mirage
(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dark%20Mirage/192/128/22)
Photos by Judith LeFevre
The sun is rapidly sinking towards the horizon as we step barefoot onto the cracked sandstone roads, warm to the touch as their captive heat is released into the cooling night air. We have entered Dark Mirage, at the North East corner of this ring of eight Fantasy Faire sims. Themed around a mystical arabian city, this sim, built and landscaped by its sponsors, The Looking Glass, Marcus Inkpen & Sharni Azalee, evokes an atmosphere of sensual, warmth and mysterious charm. The pathway tracks around the edge of this corner sim covering three side and all but encricling the broad lake at the middle of which stands the stunning landmark tower in brillant orange and gold. If you can set your windlight preset to any evening setting. Night time is spectacular but the town itself becomes so dark as to be lost in shadow; a fading evening sun gives a deep shadow and warm romantic atmosphere. Desert sunset was used in the images shown here.


The stores here are held in individual buildings each in theme with the arabian feel. More than any of the sims before you get the impression of uniqueness that is inherent in the nature of such cities in the real world and captured so well here. I would no be surprised to look again and find that they are no as unique as I felt, but the sim is assembled so expertly that reuse and duplication is not evident and the entire place is pulled tightly together in a strong pervasive theme.

Amongst the many merchants we find gorgeous body art, AOs and animations, glorious gowns and sensual silks. As you head east along the top edge of the map your eyes are drawn across the lake. A delightfully dilapidated fountain gushes water in an overgrown scrub garden, and two beasts of burden, the camel and the donkey stand watching you as you walk by.
High above you as you reach the corner of the map is a floating platform, known as the obsevatory, I could find no way to reach it without flying but it is worth rising up to. Up on the platform, you are afforded magical views for as far as your Draw Distance can let you see. when you have had your fill of the landscape you can step inside a bedouine tent. Here you can sit upon luxurious cushions and relax, mesmerised by the centre piece of the observatory, a giant crystal ball that swirls with magical colours.


Back down on the ground we head south in to the centre of the town. Here we find the arrival point for those who teleport in and of course the wonderful three storey home of The Looking Glass.
To either side sit the feature designers and it was there, in the Sa-eela store that I found the highlight, the finishing touch. Every arabian town needs its market place and here inside an authentic arab building is an authentic indoor souq. You can smell the incense and spices, hear the hubub of negotation as the merchants haggle with their customers.
Turning the next corner I was struck by the view out over the lake to the tower. The corner plot, in which a lantern lit tree, surrounded by cushions, welcomes the weary travellers to rest a while, affords a wonderful view out towards the lake and the tower framed by the buildings to each side.
As you pass westwards, towrds the inner edge of the ring of sims, more unique architectural treats are found. I loved the De La Soul building with heavy velvet drapes in particular. And so finally, we find ourselves at the end of the path. Beyond to the south we glimpse the tanalising rusty hues of Nemo Revisited, but more of that tomorrow....

Fantasy Faire 2011 - Day 3 - Forest Of Shadow

4/4/11  at 5:48 PM
Day 2 of Fantasy Faire  saw celebrities Jailed and Bailed, matching challenges issued & met, milestones reached and even more outpouring of generosity. 
Day 2 raised more than L$500,000, took the total to the 2 Million Linden mark and beyond and saw more green dots on the map than any day of any preeceeding year.  Fantasy Faire is the top pick in the SL Destination Guide, and with good reason.  Because this Faire is alive with the Spirit of Relay.  And we're just warming up - Zander Greene, Friends Fighting Cancer
And so begins Day 3...

Forest Of Shadow
(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Forest%20of%20Shadow/129/66/22)
Photos By Judith LeFevre

They passed through a gap in a wall and immediately the world around them changed. Gone was the bright sun and bird song of the Forest of Light behind them, replaced now with deep, brooding shadows and an echo of mocking laughter that filled the air. They knew that the sense of being watched was more than their own paranoid fear and all around them hidden things were staring back and waiting.
We have entered the Forest of Shadow (FoS), sponsored by Dark Goddess Designs, with landscaping and build by Numberofthebeast Angelus. The triumph of this sim is, for me, in the sense of atmosphere and intrigue that is conjured up by the small details within the sumptuous large scale design. From the air the trees look a little stunted and unappealing, especailly when contrasted with the bright hues of the neighbouring Forest of Light but get beneath the canopy and you will realise that this was a misconception and it will quickly capture your imagination.
Forest Of Shadow is located at the top of the ring of eight Fantasy Faire sims and is entered from the West as you leave Forest of Light, or from the East if you come from Dark Mirage, our next destination. The path from the Forest of Light brought us in at the top, north-western corner and here you enter the forest and can choose to head south along the course stone block pavement to the many stores. the stores here are simple Stone structures built of cut stone blocks in a style reminiscnet of Incan walls but now overgrown and starting to decay. The themed stores are small single storey structures and they line the main route as it runs south along the western edge of the sim, before turning east.

Along the bottom edge of the sim we find the larger buildings for the four featured designers and the dominant two storey Dark Goddess Store of the Sim Sponsor Alesandra Markova. The main Landing Point for the sim is directly outside the Dark Goddess building. The main path continues east before turning back north and running up to the north eastern corner where we enter the Arabina nights inspired Dark Mirage.
The stores that fill this sim are typically suited to the more shadowy environment, but here you can find amazing avatars, eery eyes and fantastic fashion. The full list of designers nestled in amongst the under growth can be found of the Forest of Shadow designers page. Be ready to dig deep as you are assailed by wonders of SL design galore.
There is however a little more. Forest Of Shadow has a little extra secret, a temptation to lure you from the beaten track. High on the northern edge of the sim sits a deserted temple lost in the magical forest, all around it are hidden secrets and less trodden paths just waiting to be discovered.
Not far from the path they spied a rough stone archway that was clearly not a natural formation. Inexplicably drawn to it they found their way beyond the arch; following the sound of rushing water that echoed from a passageway cut into the mountain, into a vast and spectacular crystal cavern. As they explored the cavern's meandering pathways they happened upon a stone monolith beaing the rune of a hand. Touching the rune gently, they cried out in surprise, a brief sharp sensation stabbed through their knees as the legs below deformed and sprouted hair.

Hidden in plain view, in the depths of the inner forest are a series of free gifts, each is held in a rune spike, there are goat legs, ears and horns, a tunic and piece of armour to be found (and perhaps more that I have missed). The adventure through the forest is a welcome distraction from the retail exravaganza and there are numerous donation points for visitors to show their gratitude.
Forest Of Shadow is a well designed sim that draws you in with its subtle attention to detail. Be sure to visit before its too late.